Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen singer to dine with President Trump, Prime Minster Abe during state visit

Singer and Internet sensation to join world leaders at dinner reception next month.

On November 5, U.S. President Donald Trump will be making his first visit to Japan since assuming office. The following evening, a dinner reception will be held for the American politician, where he will dine with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

A number of other political movers and shakers will also be present at the function, but another person reportedly on the guest list is Daimaou Kosaka, better known as Piko Taro, the singer of the phenomenally popular “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen.”

While Piko Taro’s unabashed enthusiasm for writing instruments and produce could be seen as an endorsement of the education and agriculture sectors, his inclusion in the reception probably has less to do with his stance on sociopolitical matters than with the fact that Trump’s granddaughter, Arabella Rose, is a “PPAP” fan. A video of Arabella Rose, shared by her mother (and the president’s daughter) Ivanka last October, went viral on Instagram, racking up over 1.2 million views to date.

A post shared by ピコ太郎（PIKOTARO） (@pikotaro_ppap_official) on Oct 6, 2017 at 5:01pm PDT

Japan doesn’t necessarily mind its political leaders indulging in a bit of irreverentfun, and some online commenters in Japan have reacted with bemused admiration of how far Piko Taro’s star has risen. On the other hand, some are also wondering whether the entertainer’s presence at the dinner is entirely relevant, given that Donald Trump himself has never expressed any personal fondness for “PPAP,” which is now about a year past the peak of its popularity.